McDonald's offering up free WiFi in UK restaurants

We'll admit it: we've definitely surfed for free while (shamefully) putting down a Big Mac before here in the US, but McDonald's fans across the UK can now look forward to doing the same. Reportedly, the fast-food giant has announced that it would "offer free wireless internet access across its 1,200-strong restaurants in the UK, making it the country's biggest provider of free wireless broadband access." Take that, Starbucks.

[Image courtesy of BBC]

[Alien18 @ Oct 11th 2007 2:41AM]

I live in england & dont know anywhere that does free wifi. Starbucks charge about £5 per hour!

[Jypson @ Oct 11th 2007 2:54AM]

£5 per hour?! Jump'n Jesus, what a rip-off!

[Jon @ Oct 11th 2007 3:37AM]

Come to Brighton. We have free internet WiFi throughout most public spheres including much of the sea front. In London check out Natural cafe. They offer free net access via WiFi.

[Jack @ Oct 11th 2007 5:22AM]

Wooh! Yeah! Brighton! We have a couple of FON hotspots in Shoreham, and a few cafes have free wi-fi, dunno if McDonalds has it yet

[James Rose @ Oct 11th 2007 3:16PM]

Yup I'm from Brighton too and its good around the lanes.

If anyone has BT Internet see if you have free wifi service, i do, only used it once and that was in my local starbucks (works with tmobile tzones), was free so why not. Anyway most MC Donalds have the BT wifi being pumped out so maybe there buying that service off of BT.

[Bebo @ Oct 11th 2007 2:41AM]

They've had free Wi-Fi in Egypt for a few years now.

[King Mustard @ Oct 11th 2007 2:41AM]

When?

[Seb @ Oct 11th 2007 3:00AM]

There has been a WiFi point in the McDonald's in my town (UK) for about 3 years now =S.

[KultiVator @ Oct 11th 2007 5:48AM]

Erm... the news isn't that there's hotspots in McDonalds - it's that they will soon be making access to the hotspots free of charge (up till now, they've charged quite a high hourly fee).

This move should make good business sense, attracting people that would normally drive straight past a fast-food joint... even if they only buy a coffee, it's all money.

We've just got to hope that this drives competition and over the next couple of years and it becomes the norm for restaurant/cafe chains to offer free wifi web connectivity to their paying customers.

Such a move would certainly get me to spend more time in cafes and restaurants - connected to my own personal world of favourite web-sites, blogs, email and Skype.

[Alein18 @ Oct 11th 2007 3:09AM]

Just double checked the pricing and it's confirmed here...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/24/starbucks_brings_wifi/

[Andrew @ Oct 11th 2007 3:09AM]

So, Mickey D's wants to add the title UK's largest provider of Free Wi-Fi, to that of UK's largest provider of heart disease? Still won't make me want to eat there

[Chris @ Oct 11th 2007 3:29AM]

So? Don't eat there! I'm guessing they're not going to splash out on some fancy coating to stop those radiowaves exiting the building, so anywhere within a few dozen metres of a restuarant should net you free wifi. Depends I suppose if they have a notice popping up in your browser advising it's for patrons only, then you're in slightly muddier legal waters.

Personally I feel there are much greater risks to my health than a burger every now and again, and if I can hook my phone up and do a bit of browsing at the same time then all is groovy. Go McD's!

[ilh @ Oct 11th 2007 3:20AM]

So whose Wi-Fi was I using for my DS I don't know how many times while in McDs waiting for my train in Leeds 2 years ago?

[Jon @ Oct 11th 2007 3:38AM]

Nintendo has negotiated free Nintendo Wi-Fi with BT and The Cloud for the fast two years. On other devices use it is still not a free service.

[jamma @ Oct 11th 2007 6:22AM]

if you're talking about the Maccy D's in Leeds station, you sure you weren't connected to the starbucks WiFi accidentally? cos that's free for DS's and PSPs i think...

[YouFaceTheTick @ Oct 11th 2007 3:27AM]

McDonalds in Paris almost always have free wifi. Its cheaper to buy an ice cream and use their wifi than to bother with an internet cafe.

[chris @ Oct 11th 2007 3:50AM]

didnt know they gave alcohol wipes out at mcdonalds.

i mean, you will need some to cut through the grease lining that will build up on your keyboard during that 10 minute stint in maccy D's.

[kmoon @ Oct 11th 2007 4:10AM]

McD in Denmark started offering same service oktober 8th.
Gotta get myself a burger (or whatever they call it) some day...

[Hani @ Oct 11th 2007 4:48AM]

McDonalds has been offering free wifi in its restaurants in Egypt for a while now.

[L.Rawlins @ Oct 11th 2007 4:58AM]

I'm off for a byte to eat. This here hotel wants to charge a small hourly fortune for such access during my business trip.

Now I can murder a burger, and 'the music industry' (apparently), all at the same time.

'Hamburglar' would be so proud.

[Revels @ Oct 11th 2007 5:02AM]

Your more likely to get your device nicked in ChavDonalds though.

[miguel @ Oct 11th 2007 5:11AM]

They're offering it also for free in Portugal since some months.

[Biggles @ Oct 11th 2007 6:07AM]

Dont see what all the fuss is about, loads of places where i live in the UK have free WiFi, have for ages - but WiMAX is coming anyway.

But it just shows what a bunch of profiteering gits MacD's are in the first place - they just admitting now that MacD's is the food of the poor, and the poor really carry laptops and PDA's etc, so they might as well make it free because no-one was paying anyway.

Still would not feed MD's food to my dog regardless what they offer.

[L.Rawlins @ Oct 11th 2007 6:18AM]

You can't argue with a McFlurry. No sir, whipped icecream and big brand sprinkles for the win!

'La-la-la-la-laaaa... I'm downloadin' it!'

:o)

[apstewart @ Oct 11th 2007 7:51AM]

Calling McDonalds a "restaurant" still slays me. I would say "locations", regardless of how valid "restaurant" may be.

Fine with me, though, as I don't take advantage of Starbucks' wireless. :)

[edgar Gonzalez @ Oct 11th 2007 8:15AM]

in spain theere are FREE for a while now.

[ecobore @ Oct 11th 2007 8:31AM]

Yeah, they even have this up and running in rural SW France - pretty impressive - shame about the burgers though - YUK!

[Andrew @ Oct 11th 2007 10:25AM]

Actually this is old news. McDonalds is redesigning their restaurants all over Europe. They're going upscale and changing the menus. Healthier foods and quality coffee. And new interiors, not in *primary* colors. The free Wifi is just another feature that *all* the restaurants will have. McDonalds Europe have reversed the trend and actually *make* money. They're thinking about doing it in the US also.

[livelifexplore @ Oct 11th 2007 11:05AM]

yeah, just doing a bike trip across europe and so far have used free WIFI in HOLLAND, FRANCE and SPAIN.
cannot DL any bittorrent stuff but surfing the net has been great!!!! and all the while i get fat and unhealthy :)

[Kijduse @ Oct 11th 2007 12:13PM]

Out of interest the picture is of the Richmond branch of McDonalds. Obviously this doesn't necessarily mean this particular 'restaurant' provides wifi, but they could just be nicking wifi from the T-Mobile hotspot next door...

[eric @ Oct 11th 2007 5:26PM]

in ireland its free! just ask for a scatchcard at the desk

[chris @ Oct 12th 2007 4:19AM]

It is free for a long time in France !

[kei @ Oct 13th 2007 11:13AM]

The McD that has wifi access can flip the big arch M logo upside-down...